What happened
During a return flight to Nellis Air Force Base following a Red Flag training exercise at Tinker Air Force Base, the aircraft experienced a significant mechanical failure. As the aircraft was touching down on the runway, the nose landing gear collapsed. This failure caused the aircraft to slide along the runway surface for several dozen meters.
Following the excursion, the aircraft caught fire. Despite the intensity of the flames, all 32 occupants managed to evacuate the aircraft safely. There were no reported injuries among the passengers or crew. The incident resulted in the aircraft being declared a total loss, as the damage sustained was beyond repair.
Findings
- The primary sequence of events began with the collapse of the nose gear immediately upon landing.